Open Register

What’s greener? Real or fake grass?

Slate’s Green Lantern series is tackling another horticulture topic: Which lawn is more eco-friendly? The real one or the fake one? Check out the discussion here.

-- Sarah

Consumers consider environmental impact of garden products

A majority of American households are concerned about the environmental impact of gardening products, according to the 2008 Late Spring Gardening Trends Research Report released by Garden Writers Assoc. Foundation.

The survey found that 68% of households were either very concerned (34%) or somewhat concerned (34%) about the environmental impact of gardening products they buy. Respondents also said they’re recycling more: 48% always recycle plastic nursery pots/trays, 48% always mulch or compost grass clippings and 41% always mulch or compost waste.

Additional findings:

• Weed and insect control continue to be the top two activities Americans are planning for their lawns this year (48% and 32%, respectively).
• One out of three (33%) said their primary reason for gardening is better mental health, nutrition or fitness.
• The number of gardeners planning to add more perennials to their properties this year continues to grow, increasing from 31% in 2005 to 41% this year.
• Blogs have a strong following among gardeners, with 23% reporting they read blogs of all types. Among those who read blogs, 27% said they read garden-related blogs either frequently (5%) or occasionally (22%).
• Fertilizing is the number one activity for this spring and summer, cited by 31% of respondents. Working in manure and compost comes in a close second with 28%, followed by the addition of store-bought soil mix (25%) and peat moss (14%).

-- Sarah

Top Gear: Head on board

This might surprise you but I am an absolute fanatic for a show called “Top Gear” shown on BBC America. Three crazy hosts feature the latest and greatest in top-of-the-line luxury cars, get big stars such as Helen Mirren and Ronnie Wood to take a lap around the track in a midrange car and generally make Monday nights very fun. Great show.

So, the other Monday I was watching as they lauded the performance abilities of a car whose name I can’t even pronounce (a Bugatti Veyron) that went 0 to 188 in 18 seconds or some such (Richard Hammond was racing a jet plane. Seriously.) They went on about the mechanics and brilliance of the car and the fun things it can do -- but they lamented the fact that this super car is not practical for everyday use.

Jeremy Clarkson stands 6’5. That’s important because as they despaired the practicality of the luxury cars such as the Bugatti and avoiding the congestion fee they must pay, Jeremy pulled out a teeny tiny car that emits little pollution, gets 100 mpg … and is so small that you can literally carry it to your office instead of parking. Watching him fold himself into it was a funny TV moment. I don’t remember the make or model but it was a three wheel car (similar to this pic) made in the ’60s. It had a top speed of 35 mph, no reverse gear and fit into an elevator.

My point is that while I don’t remember those cars (the ’60s were before my time), I have noticed a resurgence in the green habits of my childhood such as composting, recapturing water and recycling household goods. Girl or Boy Scouts anyone?

It’s a positive trend and these particular ones seem easy enough that anyone could do them. But what else can we do? Where can we go for information and help? To me, the logical place for hands-on, informational and instructional eco-wise practices is my local garden center. They’re the ones who can tell me how I can help, what systems I can implement, what plants and trees I can grow to keep the green movement going in my own little world.

In short, they’re my go-to source.

Do you fill that need for your customers? I hope so.

-- Jennifer

Human hair--the ultimate weed control?

Forget cedar mulch, coconut fibers and plastic disks. Recycled human hair is the cure for your weed woes, according to Florida-based company Smart Grow.

The business uses recycled hair from the wig industry, beauty parlors and barber shops to create weed barrier mats. The fibers are 100 percent biodegradable and contain 15% nitrogen and other micronutrients.

Researchers at University of Florida are testing the mats on tomato plants. Aaron Palmateer, associate professor of plant pathology, told ABC News that the tomatoes are showing increased yield. “We were really amazed. It’s really promising,” he said.

-- Sarah

European Union may ban patio heaters

The European Union is considering a ban on outdoor patio heaters, The Times reported. Opponents of the appliance claim they are inefficient and eco-unfriendly. The heaters have become increasingly important due to smoking bans that have forced pub-goers outdoors. The appliances have also seen widespread residential use.

Several U.K. garden center chains have said they will stop selling patio heaters. A spokesperson for the Horticultural Trades Association told the paper that garden centers were looking at promoting greener alternatives.

-- Sarah

What is the greenest tree?

Slate.com recently tried to answer the question: What is the greenest tree? A reader wanted to know which trees they should plant to soak up the most greenhouse gases. Check out what the author recommended.

-- Sarah

First Project: Green article is in the mail

The January issue of Garden Center Magazine, with its first article in the Project: Green series, is on its way to subscribers today. The article focuses on recycling by profiling how 3 different groups handle their programs. Missouri Botanical Garden has arguably the most successful -- and longest running -- horticultural pot program. Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Assoc. consulted MBG before starting its program, which relies on rewholesalers to allow year-long collection and recycling. Matterhorn Nursery in Spring Valley, N.Y., began a new wide-ranging recycling program just this past fall and reduced its landfill fee from $3,567.28 to $357.12, measured over the same 3-month span in 2006 and 2007.

--Carol

Retailers with an environmental conscience

The push toward sustainability is in full force in Corporate America. Timothy Treadwell, environmental director at Juice Energy Inc., an electricity supplier with a focus on renewable sources, believes retailers who take the initiative on climate issues should be rewarded for their efforts.

Juice Energy and its staff of environmental and energy experts identified 10 companies as frontrunners in the shift to green business:

Patagonia. In 1998, Patagonia became the first California-based company to buy electricity from 100% renewable energy sources and achieved LEED gold certification for its Nevada distribution center. Patagonia is a leader in recycling, with its Common Threads Garment Recycling Program, which recycles used fleece for use in new products.

Kohl’s. Kohl’s is the second largest retail purchaser of green power and the largest among department stores. Kohl’s will complete the largest rooftop solar project in the U.S. next year, with installations at 63 of 80 California locations.

Whole Foods. A natural and organic supermarket, Whole Foods purchases green power equal to 100% of its electricity use.

prAna. In 2005, the outdoor and lifestyle apparel wholesaler launched its Natural Power Initiative to purchase green power equal to the electricity use of all 250 prAna retailers, the company’s corporate headquarters and the homes of all its full-time employees.

REI. REI has committed to reducing CO2 emissions by 1/3 from the 2006 baseline by the end of 2009.

The rest of the top 10:

• UPS.
• Timberland.
• Nike.
• Wal-Mart.
• Target.

--Kevin

Who leads our industry in sustainability?

I had a fascinating, “for background only” conversation yesterday (Dec. 5). Background interviews are one step up from “off the record,” which means that I can talk about our conversation, I just can’t tell you who the second party was. And background and off-the-record interviews are invariably much more interesting than on-the-record ones, naturally.

The interview was part of my research on “green” plants for the second article in Project: Green. An issue that keeps cropping up is how do you define when a plant has been grown in a sustainable manner?

For organic edible plants, there are nationally recognized programs in place with strict criteria. But each grower with a sustainable program has its own definition, whether it stems from the pots used, fewer inputs, plant selection, and on and on.

Programs that verify sustainability

There are certification programs out there. One is MPS, a European program that awards growers points for sustainable practices, with the highest combined total at 100 points. The giant international company, IKEA, for example, will buy plants in Europe only from MPS growers that rate an A.

The certification program that seems to be edging ahead here in the States, though, is Veriflora, which exists for the floral industry. Which leads me back to my background-only interview today with a man I will call Mystery Man.

Real Christmas trees are a green option

Consumers can take comfort. Real Christmas trees are an environmentally friendly option, a report on Yahoo! Green confirmed. Farmed trees are a renewable resource and can be recycled after the holidays. Artificial PVC trees were cast in less favorable light, due to pollution caused during production.

-- Sarah